LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and other city officials announced some precautions that the city is taking this week to protect people from the cold.
Officials are urging everyone to be careful and stay safe.
Gorton also announced that yard waste will not be collected until Monday, Feb. 4. Trash and recycling will not be picked up Thursday. If that is your trash pickup day, you can put your bins out on Friday. For more information of this week’s waste collection schedule in Lexington, click here.
Fayette County Schools is also cancelling classes and activities Wednesday due to the cold temperatures.
All of this is in an effort to keep people safe by not being outside for too long. Frostbite can only take a few minutes to set in, so if you can, stay inside.
The good news is that the city expects streets and roads to be in good condition all throughout this cold weather so if your commute involves driving, you should be okay.
“Not calling for a lot of precipitation. More of snow squalls and that type of thing. Clearly, it’s just controlling your activities outdoors, pacing yourself,” said Public Works Director Charles Martin.
Gorton said it’s “not a bad idea to keep a blanket in the car and water in case you have car trouble.”
People are advised to dress in warm layers of clothes.
Gorton says that the city will take the opportunity to reach people experiencing homelessness during the dangerous cold. On Monday, LEX 18 reported on Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) bringing two trailers to the Catholic Action Center parking lot to help make sure people experiencing homelessness have a warm place to stay. The trailers hold 66 beds combined. The Catholic Action Center only has 134 beds and the community room and 180 people are signed up to stay at the center.
At the news conference, Gorton also reminded people to think about your pets in this cold weather.
“Although some pets are used to staying outside. In extreme temperatures, experts recommend that animals be moved inside,” said Gorton.
If you see an animal in distress out in the cold, call Animal Care and Control at 859-255-9033. Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control is offering temporary indoor crates for people in need if they bring their pet in.
If you do keep your dogs outside, make sure that they have proper shelter. Igloo shelters are recommended and dry straw and blankets can be used for insulation. Ashley Marcum with the Lexington Humane Society says it is best to keep your pet’s shelter’s floor elevated off the ground. Make sure they also have plenty of food and water in plastic bowls.
Lexington-Fayette County ordinance describes adequate shelter for pets as, “Adequate shelter means for dogs an appropriate, durable, enclosed, permanent structure, or a structure manufactured to serve primarily as an outdoor shelter for a dog, with a roof, four (4) sides and a floor constructed in a manner to protect a dog’s feet and legs from injury and with dimensions appropriate for breed and size. The shelter shall provide the dog adequate protection and shelter from heat and cold and from the direct effect of wind, rain and snow. The shelter shall have a sufficient amount of clean organic bedding material, e.g., straw, hay or wood shavings, to keep the dog warm and dry. For all other animals, “adequate shelter” means an appropriate structure that provides the animal adequate protection and shelter, as determined by the animal’s species, from heat and cold and from the direct effect of wind, rain and snow.”
